EN 
ES 
FR 
Signs of Holiness in the Life of Blessed Marie Poussepin
A life marked by faith and charity
The life of Blessed Marie Poussepin is distinguished by profound faith, generous service to others, and active charity — all of which reflect her journey of holiness. Her witness continues to inspire those who seek to live the Gospel with authenticity today.
Virtues lived in daily life
From Francia
Throughout her life, Marie Poussepin faithfully embodied the theological virtues — faith, hope, and charity — and the cardinal virtues — prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These virtues, lived in daily reality, reveal the boldness of her response to God and her total dedication to others.
Faithfulness in difficult times
Her lifestyle was a clear testimony to Christ’s presence within her. In the historical context of late 17th- and early 18th-century France — marked by absolutism, war, misery, and disease — she remained faithful to the Gospel, living her Christian vocation with radical simplicity.
A life project rooted in service
From a young age, she dedicated herself to parish service and to the poor, serving as treasurer and president of her village's Confraternity of Charity. Her life was one of continual self-giving: helping orphaned girls, the poor, young apprentices, and artisans — promoting work as a means to overcome poverty. She began her mission in Dourdan, inspired by her parents, and continued it in Sainville, sustained by trust in God's Providence.
Faith as the foundation of her consecration
As a consecrated woman, she made faith the foundation of her life. She held firm hope in all her undertakings; fortitude enabled her to give up everything without reserve; prudence guided her decisions. Her life was so coherent that she wrote in her will: “Having reserved nothing, I possess nothing”.
A faith expressed in action
Her faith was evident in concrete actions, like the Good Samaritan who cared for the wounded (cf. Lk 10:34). Marie Poussepin “went about doing good,” stopping for the fallen, and healing both bodily and spiritual wounds.
Prayer and service as a way of life
She understood that prayer and action are inseparable aspects of Christian life. For this reason, she made it clear that her community was not to be monastic, but active in service. She exhorted her Sisters to live simply, to be no burden to others, and to work with their own hands.
From Peru
Charity as an expression of faith
For Marie Poussepin, faith as a theological virtue is deeply linked to service. One prays while serving and contemplates God in the face of others. Faith is not limited to pious acts — though she valued them — but is especially expressed through charity, which proclaims the Word and is nourished by contemplation.
A call to live holiness today
Marie Poussepin’s charism continues to inspire many to live holiness in the ordinary. Recognized, at his beatification, as a Social Apostle of Charity, her example invites us to transform the world through the eloquent language of service, embodied faith, and tireless love.
Text: Sr. Amparo de la Trinidad Ángel Bernal
